France: The Vicat Group has reported that its sales for the three months ending 31 March 2013 amounted to Euro491m, a rise of 1.2% year-on-year and a rise of 2.7% at constant scope and exchange rates.

In the cement sector Vicat had sales of Euro256m, a marginal 0.2% increase (3.1% at current scope and exchange rates) on the Euro255m seen in the first quarter of 2012. Vicat sold 4.1Mt of cement during the quarter a year-on-year reported rise of 8%.

In France, Vicat's sales were down by 7.2% year-on-year for the quarter to Euro183m from Euro198m. Cement sales here were down by 14.2%. In Europe (excluding France) sales were stable year-on-year at Euro73m, a slight drop from Euro74m in the same period of 2012. Vicat noted a 14% sales increase in Switzerland but a 12.5% drop in sales in Italy.

In the United States, Vicat's cement sales increased by 13.7% year-on-year, with California seeing the most significant growth at 22%. In Turkey, India and Kazakhstan sales were up by nearly a third to Euro101m. In Turkey they were up by 84% to Euro45m, 10.6% to Euro44m in India and 23.2% to Euro12.4m in Kazakhstan. In Egypt sales fell by 10.6% to Euro22.8m and in west Africa sales were down by 5.1%.

Vicat said it would be able to advance its strong market positions in the rest of 2013. It expects conditions in France to remain difficult, those in Switzerland to remain positive and Italy to recover along with the US. It sees Turkey as continuing its positive cement market development and remains confident about the pospects of the Egyptian industry in the medium to long term. It expects to benefit from the recent launch of its Bharathi Cement plant in India and views its 'ideal' location within Kazakhstan as a great advantage in that growing economy.